May brings an opportunity to celebrate mothers and their wildlife counterparts.
Families across the country recently came together to celebrate Mother’s Day and the hard-working women that raised us.
In honor of this annual holiday, here are five animal moms worth celebrating.
Remember, always keep a safe distance away from wildlife. Nature provides their food so please do not attempt to feed the animals.
1. Alligators
You’d be hard-pressed to find a fiercer mom than a alligator. After building a nest of sticks and plants to lay her eggs, mother alligators ward off intruders such as raccoons who would try to eat her babies before they can hatch. Once the young are ready to break out of their eggs, their mother digs them out of the nest, gently carrying them to the water in her mouth. She’ll watch over her young for up to a year after they hatch – that’s dedication!